DECISION ON REZONING FOR STRIP MALL IS DELAYED

Carri KaruhnCHICAGO TRIBUNE

The village's planning, building and zoning committee last week decided to delay its decision to rezone a piece of land so a developer could build a strip mall along Northwest Highway between Smith Street and Grove Road.

The committee wants the village and the developer to answer questions raised by one resident, Jim Placek, at the meeting.

Peter Di Iorio of Dior Realty is planning to build a 61,759-square-foot shopping center on 1.66 acres. If approved, it will contain 11 storefronts ranging between 3,939 square feet and 678 square feet.

Placek expressed concern over the number of strip malls in town and that some of their storefronts are empty.

"Palatine, to me, seems to be becoming sort of a Schaumburg," said Placek, who lives in a condominium complex directly adjacent to the proposed project. "Palatine seems to be overdoing it.

Placek also said he would prefer that the land remain zoned residential.

But Trustee Jack Wagner said at the committee meeting that empty storefronts don't necessarily mean the village is overdeveloped. Businesses come and go all the time, he said, and the empty spots eventually get filled.

Meanwhile, Trustee Dan Varonney pointed out that the area surrounding the proposed project is zoned for commercial use, and that the developer plans to use the building as his corporate headquarters.

"I think we've got a chance to have something that's aesthetic and pleasing to the eye, other than what's there now," Varonney said.